Battle of Flodden

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Site of the Battle of Flodden

Battle of Flodden

Where is it – England, North East England

Who looks after it –  Unknown 

What is it –  Battlefield, Free access, Walk 

When is it from – Tudor

The Battle of Flodden took place on the afternoon of 9 September 1513 near Branxton in Northumberland between a Scottish invading army commanded by King James IV and the defending English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey.  The Scottish invasion was in direct response to a request from King Louis XII following King Henry VIII’s invasion of France.  James crossed into England at Coldstream with an army of between 30 and 40,000 (excluding non-combatants).  The English army was in the region of 25,000. After much manoeuvring, the battle took place somewhere in the fields to the south of Branxton on the slopes of Branxton Hill, starting late in the afternoon and lasting about 3 hours. It was an emphatic English victory. By nightfall James, most of his nobles and perhaps 10,000 of his countrymen lay dead. It was the last time a reigning British monarch fell in battle.  It is reckoned that the English lost about 1500 men.

Less than 100 years later, a Scottish king sat on England’s throne.

The battlefield is marked by a granite cross, erected in 1910, and there is a battlefield trail created and maintained by the Remembering Flodden Project. There are several places nearby associated with the battle, including the lovely church of Branxton close to the battlefield, as well as with James’s wider campaign – such as Etal Castle. There is limited parking (but no other facilities) near the monument.

 


Address
Branxton, Northumberland TD12 4SN 

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